For many amateur photographers, deciding on the right lens to purchase can be challenging because there are so many choices out there. If you’re not experienced with different lenses and only have experience with point-and-shoot cameras, then buying your first DSLR can be overwhelming.

One of the most common lens questions that new DSLR users ask is which lens should I get? The answer to this question is often hotly debated because it’s difficult to choose the right lens if you don’t know what it’s used for or how it works.

Therefore, to help you choose between two popular focal lengths, here’s an in-depth comparison of the 18-55mm lens and the 50mm lens.

18-55mm Lens Vs 50mm – A Detailed Comparison

To give you a proper understanding, I am dividing main features and properties of 18-55mm and 50mm lenses into three different sections:

• Weight & Size
• Focusing Speed
• Image Quality

Let’s look at them one by one!

Learn more: What Does MM Mean On Camera Lens?

Weight & Size

The 18-55mm lens weighs around 5oz and has a diameter of 3.2 inches. The 18-55mm lens is smaller than a 50mm lens because it has a wider focal length. You can actually fit the 18-55mm lens inside a 50mm lens case!

With the 50mm lens, you can travel lighter because you only need one lens to cover a wide range of focal lengths compared to needing two lenses (18-55mm and 35mm) to cover the same focal lengths.

You can also take better stealthy photos without drawing attention to yourself. Keep in mind that the 50mm lens is slightly heavier because it’s designed to be a high-quality lens with a longer focal length.

Because of its larger size, it’s better for stationary photography and portraits. These are areas in which the wider 18-55mm lens may fall short.

Focusing Speed

The nifty fifty lens is a full-frame lens, which means it’s designed for full-frame DSLR cameras. Full-frame DSLRs allow you to focus more quickly than cameras with smaller sensors because the smaller sensor has a longer distance between the lens and the sensor.

While the 18-55mm lens focuses quickly on most DSLR cameras with a smaller sensor, it may lag on full-frame cameras. The longer it takes to focus, the farther away the lens is from the sensor.

As a general rule, the wider the zoom range, the slower the lens is at focusing. The 18-55mm lens has a very wide zoom range, which makes it slower than the 50mm lens.

You’ll notice a big difference when you’re photographing moving subjects or when you’re in low light. The 50mm lens is designed for stationary photography, so it’s great for portraits and landscapes.

Image Quality

The 50mm lens is a prime lens, which means it’s designed to be used with a full-frame camera. Prime lenses are known for having better image quality because they’re designed for a specific purpose.

These 50mm lenses have a maximum aperture of f/1.8, allowing more light in. This is great for low-light photography and portraits because it allows more light to enter the lens and reach the sensor.

They  also have a larger aperture which lets you achieve a nice blurry background when you’re photographing subjects.

In comparison to a 50mm lense, a wider 18-55mm lens has a maximum aperture of f/3.5, which isn’t as nice for low-light photography. However, modern cameras can create up and down differences.

Also, a 50mm lens has a larger focal length which is better for portraits because it creates a nice blurry background. The 18-55mm lens is too wide to achieve this effect.

The 50mm lens is also made with higher-quality materials, which means it maintains its image quality longer than the 18-55mm lens.

Related: 55mm Vs 50mm Lens

What Is The 18-55mm lens Good for?

The 18-55mm lens is a good general-purpose lens for beginners who want to photograph landscapes, portraits, and travel. Because of its wide zoom range, you can use the 18-55mm lens for almost anything. This makes it great for general photography because you don’t have to switch out lenses as often.

The wide zoom range of 18-55mm lens is also great for photographing kids and pets. It allows you to approach your targets without physically entering their area. You can also zoom out to get a wider view of the scene and include more people or animals.

What Is The 50mm lens Good for?

The 50mm lens has a narrow zoom range that’s best for stationary photography and portraits. The narrower zoom range helps you achieve nice blurry backgrounds and keep your subjects in focus.

It’s also a good lens for low-light photography because it has a wider aperture of f/1.8. The only true downside of the 50mm lens is that it does not allow you to zoom in and out.

The 50mm lens is best for taking portraits because it creates a nice blurry background and keeps your subject in focus. This is a popular photography technique that gives photographs a more professional and attractive appearance.

My Opinion

When it comes to lenses, the two main types are the 55mm and the 50mm. Both have specific advantages that make them perfect for certain sorts of photography.

Here, we will be taking a detailed look at both types of lenses to help you decide which one is right for your needs.

The first consideration is the type of photography you intend to accomplish with the lens.

If you are mostly shooting landscapes or portraits, then the 55mm lens will be a better choice. This is because it provides a wider field of view, which is perfect for capturing large scenes.

It also has a slightly longer focal length, which allows you to get closer to your subject without distorting its details.

If you want to perform a lot of close-up work, such as macro photography or product photography, the 50mm lens is a better choice. Because it has a shorter focal length, you may go closer to your subject without losing image quality.

It also boasts a quicker maximum aperture, which allows for more light and crisper photographs.

So, which one should you choose? Ultimately, it all comes down to personal preference and what type of photography you want to use it for. If you can’t decide between the two, then our best advice would be to try both out and see which one you prefer!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is A 50mm lens Good for Close-Ups?

The 50mm lens is an excellent primary lens focal length for photographs of people, especially given the budget, although it can seem fairly limited in the photos you can capture, especially in close quarters.

How Far Can A 18-55mm Lens Shoot?

An 18-55mm lens on an APS-C camera is comparable to a 28-85mm full frame lens (FF). It is a general-purpose lens with focal lengths ranging from medium wide-angle to short telephoto. At 18mm, you might be able to get 3-5 people in the frame if you’re photographing a group of people from 8-10 feet away.

Is A 50mm lens Good for Everything?

It’s one of the most popular lenses on the market, and it can be used for everything from portraiture to car photography to landscapes and night photography. The only time a 50mm lens cannot be used is when you are so far away from your subject that a telephoto lens is required to capture it.

How Do You Blur the Background with A 18-55mm Lens?

Maintain a safe distance between the subject and anything in the backdrop. Reduce the aperture size as much as feasible. At 55mm, the highest aperture you’ll be able to use is f/5.6. You can see how large this corridor is and how far everything is from where the model was standing.

Conclusions

The debate over which lens is best has no clear winner. Each lens has its own set of benefits and drawbacks, and they are best used in different situations. 

The 18-55mm lens is best for general photography and general portrait photography because of its wide zoom range. The 50mm lens is ideal for portrait photography because it produces a pleasant fuzzy backdrop.